Dr. Terrell Brown
Program Chair
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211
Telephone:(601) 979-8896/8869
E-mail: mswprogram@jsums.edu

Faculty

Mission of the Master of Social Work Program 

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The mission of the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) Program is to prepare graduate level social workers for advanced direct social work practice with children, youth, and families in both urban and rural areas. The Program produces leaders who demonstrate and build upon the knowledge and skills of advanced direct social work practice; who exemplify the values and ethics of the profession; and who are responsive to the need for services, which promote social, economic, and political justice for all groups, especially those confronting discrimination and oppression. Thus, the Program works to increase the pool of master's level social workers by providing a nurturing academic environment for promising students who reflect the diversity of the state, the nation, and the global community. The Master of Social Work Program supports the implementation of the missions of the University, the College of Public Service, and the School of Social Work.

The goals of the M.S.W. Program are:

1. To prepare students for advanced direct social work practice with children, youth, and families in local, national, and global settings with systems of all sizes;
2. To prepare students for leadership roles in the profession of social work and the social welfare arena;
3. To prepare students to identify patterns, dynamics, and consequences of social, economic, and political discrimination and oppression and promote appropriate change when necessary;
4. To prepare students for advanced direct social work practice in diverse organizational and social contexts, with an understanding of the ways in which these contexts influence social work practice and with the ability to promote appropriate change when necessary; and
5. To provide students with a challenging educational experience that develops self-awareness and assures the acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and values and ethics necessary for competent advanced direct social work practice.

The objectives of the M.S.W. Program are to ensure that
graduates:

1. Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and values and ethics relevant to advanced direct social work practice with children, youth and families in diverse environments;
2. Demonstrate self-awareness and the effective use of self in direct social work practice;
3. Evaluate their own practice in social work settings;
4. Evaluate and apply theoretical perspectives and research findings to practice;
5. Demonstrate the ability to use supervision and consultation appropriate to direct social work practice;
6. Integrate into direct practice a knowledge of the historical development of the profession and the differential impact of social, economic, and political policies;
7. Demonstrate the ability to advocate for social, economic, and political justice and promote appropriate change in organizational and social contexts;
8. Practice without discrimination and with sensitivity when serving diverse populations;
9. Utilize effective oral and written communication skills;
10. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of direct social work practice; and
11. Demonstrate leadership skills and abilities in practice settings.

Admissions Criteria

Admission to the full-time and part-time MSW Program is determined on a selective basis according to the following criteria:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Students may be admitted with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than social work or social welfare. Transcripts will be evaluated for the presence of courses that meet program requirements for a liberal arts background, inclusive of courses in human biology and statistics;
• A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with GPAs lower than a 2.75 may be considered for admission.
• Academic and professional references;
• Written personal statement;
• Evidence of volunteer and/or work experience in the field of social work;
• Updated Resume
• An interview with the Admissions Committee may be required.

Admission to the Advanced Standing M.S.W. Program is determined on a selective basis according the following criteria:

• Applicant must be a graduate of a CSWE accredited baccalaureate program within the past five (5) years.
• A letter grade of “B” or better in all social work courses. No course repeats.
• A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate coursework.

*An interview with the Admissions Committee may be required.

To facilitate determination of admission into the MSW Program, applicants must send materials to the Graduate School. Admission materials to be submitted to the Graduate School are as follows:

1. Graduate School Admission Application;
2. Out-of-state Application fee of $25.00 if applicable;
3. Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended;
4. Official copy of TOEFL Score(s), for applicants whose native language is not English;
5. Certified Declaration of Financial Support for International Students. Sufficient funds to cover expenses for one academic year should be placed on deposit with the Jackson State University Office of Fiscal Affairs; and
6. Immunization record showing proof of immunization compliance for measles and rubella, if born after December 1957.
7. Three recommendation forms from instructors, employers, supervisors, or professional colleagues;
8. Personal Statement;
9. Work Experience Form;
10. Graduate School Application for Financial Aid;
11. MSW Program Financial Aid Application; and,
12. MSW Program First-Year Field Instruction Application.

All MSW forms can be found on the MSW homepage under application packet. These forms can be downloaded, filled out, saved, and uploaded to the Graduate School application portal (AdmissionPros) or emailed to mswprogram@jsums.edu.

Applicants with a social work degree granted outside the United States must request and submit an Application for Evaluation of Foreign Credentials from the Council of Social Work Education, Foreign Equivalency Determination Service. The address is:

1725 Duke Street, Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314-3459.

Their website is: http://www.cswe.org.

A copy of the evaluation is to be forwarded to the MSW Program Admissions.

Transfer Credits

The MSW Program will accept a limited number of transfer students each year. A maximum of 12 semester hours may be applied toward your degree, based on a review by the MSW Admissions Committee. Applicants must meet admission’s requirements of the MSW Program and the Graduate School at Jackson State University.

Within 30 days of notification of acceptance into the Program and prior to enrollment, the student must submit a written statement of intent to transfer credit and the specific credit(s) for which transfer is requested to the MSW Program Coordinator.

The request for transfer of credit(s) must be accompanied by an official copy of the graduate catalog from the institution at which the course(s) were taken that covers the year(s) the course(s) was/were taken. For each course for which transfer credit is requested:

• The course must have been taken within the past five years,
• The student must have earned a minimum grade of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; and

Academic Credit for Life Experience and Work Experience

No academic credit for life and work experience is given. 

Duplication of Course Content in the Professional Foundation Curriculum

Students may be exempt from courses in the foundation curriculum that represent duplication of course content previously taken. The courses must have been taken within five years of the date of the request for exemption, with a minimum grade of “B” or 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale.

Each request for exemption must:

1. be made in writing to the MSW Program Coordinator and be submitted within 30 days of being notified of acceptance into the Program;
2. specify the course for which the exemption is requested;
3. be accompanied by an official copy of the graduate catalogue from the institution at which the courses were taken that covers the year(s) the course was taken; and
4. be accompanied by a copy of the course syllabus, including bibliography and course assignment(s).

Requests received after the deadline stated above and/or do not meet the requirements stated in this section will not be considered.

Following receipt of the request, a proficiency examination will be administered to determine the student’s mastery of the content of the specified course. Proficiency will be determined by the student earning a grade of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the examination administered.

The MSW Program Coordinator will notify students of the proficiency examination results in writing. The results of the examination are final and there is no appeal of the grade received on the examination. Students who do not earn a minimum grade of “B” or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the examination must take the course for which exemption was requested.

Fifty-Seven (57) semester credit hours are required for completion of the MSW Degree. Therefore, students who achieve a grade of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the examination administered and are exempted from a specific course or courses are required to take such additional courses as may be required to meet the compulsory sixty credit hours to earn the MSW degree. Courses must be approved by the MSW Program Coordinator.

Academic Performance

Passing Grades

Students must have a cumulative 3.0 grade point average to graduate from the MSW Program. A grade less than "C" or 2.0 is considered failure in a social work course. Students may not receive a grade of "C" in more than two courses.

Probation

If a student's cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. The student will have until the end of the subsequent semester of enrollment to attain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Failure to attain the required cumulative grade point average by the end of the probationary period will result in dismissal of the student from the MSW Program. The probationary period in the MSW Program is defined as one subsequent semester of enrollment in the program after the cumulative grade point average falls below a 3.00.

Repeating Courses

Students may repeat only one course in the program with the recommendation of the advisor and approval of the program coordinator. Students desirous of this option must submit a written request to the program coordinator during the subsequent semester or term/session in which the student is enrolled. The advisor must indicate support (or non-support) of the request in writing to the program coordinator. When a student is allowed to repeat a course, both grades will show on the transcript and both grades will be used in computing the cumulative grade point average.

Degree Requirements

The MSW Program offers a two-year full-time curriculum. Foundation courses are offered in the first year, and the second year focuses on advanced direct practice with children, youth, and families. Students are required to successfully complete 57 credit hours to earn the MSW degree. The last 30 hours must be taken in residence at Jackson State University Field instruction in the two-year full-time and three-year part-time curricula consists of two lock field instruction courses (i.e., four days per week), one in the foundation year, and one in the concentration curriculum, which all students take in the spring of the final semester in which they are enrolled in the program. Both foundation and concentration require courses 450 hours of field instruction (Advanced Standing students need a minimum of 500+ hours). Students must complete a total of 900 hours in field instruction, which is the CSWE required minimum. The foundation field instruction course is SW 594 FUNDTN FIELD PRACTICUM AND SEM, while SW 595 ADVD CNT: FIELD PRACTICE & SEM is designated as the concentration field instruction course.

If the student plans to enroll full-time, the program strongly advises against simultaneous full-time employment, which generates barriers to the completion of field instruction and class attendance. A three-year part-time curriculum is offered, requiring six semesters and two summer sessions for completion of the 57 credit hour MSW program. If the student plans part-time enrollment and is employed full-time or part-time, the program strongly advises the student to consult with his/her employer regarding arrangements to complete field instruction during the regular work day.

An advanced standing curriculum is offered which requires one summer and two semesters to complete requirements for the MSW Degree. Advanced standing students must be enrolled as full-time students throughout the program, beginning in the Graduate Summer Term.

To enroll in field practicum, a student must provide documentation of professional liability insurance. Please contact the School of Social Work for the required minimum liability coverage.

The following are the academic requirements for Field Instruction:

1. Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and a 3.0 or grade of “B” in all practice courses to be eligible for Field Instruction. Students who do not have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in courses required to meet the compulsory 57 credit hours or approved equivalency to earn the MSW degree, will not be eligible to enroll in a Field Instruction course. Students must earn a minimum grade of “B” or 3.0 in all of the first year practice courses.
2. Students are required to earn a 3.0 in all of the Field Instruction courses. Students may repeat one Field Instruction course in which a grade of less than 3.0 is earned. Students who fail to earn a minimum grade of 3.0 may not enroll in subsequent Field Instruction courses and are subject to dismissal from the MSW program.

Two-Year Full-Time Curriculum

Three-Year Part-Time Curriculum

Advanced Standing Curriculum